Patents by Inventor Igor Berliant

Igor Berliant has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11420850
    Abstract: A retracting rail clamp for braking or anchoring a rail-mounted machine such as a crane by clamping opposite sides of a longitudinal rail member, the retracting rail clamp comprising: a load transfer frame rigidly secured to the crane, such as by bolting; and a clamp mechanism suspended within the load transfer frame by at least one lateral pair of pivotally mounted lift levers, and operable through a first and second stage of motion between a raised, brake release position, in which the entirety of the rail clamp is disposed substantially vertically clear of the rail, and a lowered, brake set position wherein at least one opposed facing pair of main levers of the clamp mechanism engage the side surfaces of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: PORTAL CRANE PARTS LTD.
    Inventors: Allan Roy Murdoch, Igor Berliant
  • Publication number: 20210188598
    Abstract: A retracting rail clamp for braking or anchoring a rail-mounted machine such as a crane by clamping opposite sides of a longitudinal rail member, the retracting rail clamp comprising: a load transfer frame rigidly secured to the crane, such as by bolting; and a clamp mechanism suspended within the load transfer frame by at least one lateral pair of pivotally mounted lift levers, and operable through a first and second stage of motion between a raised, brake release position, in which the entirety of the rail clamp is disposed substantially vertically clear of the rail, and a lowered, brake set position wherein at least one opposed facing pair of main levers of the clamp mechanism engage the side surfaces of the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Allan Roy Murdoch, Igor Berliant
  • Patent number: 10941824
    Abstract: An extended range, consistent force rail brake comprising an adjustable wedge assembly operatively situated between the main power spring(s) and the brake shoe(s) for selectively taking up the vertical distance that the brake shoe is required to travel between the brake release position and an initial railhead contact position. The adjustable wedge assembly is thus selectively expandable in the vertical orientation, and may comprise: an upper block that is operatively connected, either directly or indirectly, to the power spring; a lower wedge rigidly affixed to a replaceable brake shoe; and an intermediate wedge that is located by suitable bearings and/or linkages for transverse, generally horizontal slidable engagement between the upper block and the lower wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Portal Crane Parts Ltd.
    Inventors: Allan Roy Murdoch, Igor Berliant
  • Patent number: 10730722
    Abstract: A retracting rail clamp for braking or anchoring a rail-mounted machine such as a crane by clamping opposite sides of a longitudinal rail member, the retracting rail clamp comprising: a load transfer frame rigidly secured to the crane, such as by bolting; and a clamp mechanism suspended within the load transfer frame by at least one lateral pair of pivotally mounted lift levers, and operable through a first and second stage of motion between a raised, brake release position, in which the entirety of the rail clamp is disposed substantially vertically clear of the rail, and a lowered, brake set position wherein at least one opposed facing pair of main levers of the clamp mechanism engage the side surfaces of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: PORTAL CRANE PARTS LTD.
    Inventors: Allan Roy Murdoch, Igor Berliant
  • Publication number: 20180238407
    Abstract: An extended range, consistent force rail brake comprising an adjustable wedge assembly operatively situated between the main power spring(s) and the brake shoe(s) for selectively taking up the vertical distance that the brake shoe is required to travel between the brake release position and an initial railhead contact position. The adjustable wedge assembly is thus selectively expandable in the vertical orientation, and may comprise: an upper block that is operatively connected, either directly or indirectly, to the power spring; a lower wedge rigidly affixed to a replaceable brake shoe; and an intermediate wedge that is located by suitable bearings and/or linkages for transverse, generally horizontal slidable engagement between the upper block and the lower wedge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Allan Roy Murdoch, Igor Berliant
  • Publication number: 20180037443
    Abstract: A retracting rail clamp for braking or anchoring a rail-mounted machine such as a crane by clamping opposite sides of a longitudinal rail member, the retracting rail clamp comprising: a load transfer frame rigidly secured to the crane, such as by bolting; and a clamp mechanism suspended within the load transfer frame by at least one lateral pair of pivotally mounted lift levers, and operable through a first and second stage of motion between a raised, brake release position, in which the entirety of the rail clamp is disposed substantially vertically clear of the rail, and a lowered, brake set position wherein at least one opposed facing pair of main levers of the clamp mechanism engage the side surfaces of the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: PORTAL CRANE PARTS LTD.
    Inventors: Allan Roy Murdoch, Igor Berliant
  • Publication number: 20140158475
    Abstract: The rail clamp includes a carriage having an actuator frame mounted to its base so as to extend upwardly from the base. Springs are mounted in the actuator frame at the upper end of the carriage. An actuator is mounted between the base and the springs. A wheel is mounted on a wheel support. The wheel engages the rail. At least one suspension frame is pivotally mounted to the carriage and at an opposite end, to the wheel support. The actuator operates on the suspension frame so as to elevate the carriage. A pair of clamping levers is pivotally mounted to the base of the carriage. Brake shoes mount on the lower-most ends of the levers. The levers are pivotable so as to clamp their lower-most ends together when their upper ends are moved apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Hillmar Industries Limited
    Inventors: Ian W. Bourhill, Igor Berliant
  • Patent number: 8646582
    Abstract: The rail clamp includes a carriage having an actuator frame mounted to its base so as to extend upwardly from the base. Springs are mounted in the actuator frame at the upper end of the carnage. An actuator is mounted between the base and the springs. A wheel is mounted on a wheel support. The wheel engages the rail. At least one suspension frame is pivotally mounted to the carriage and at an opposite end, to the wheel support. The actuator operates on the suspension frame so as to elevate the carriage. A pair of clamping levers is pivotally mounted to the base of the carriage. Brake shoes mount on the lower-most ends of the levers. The levers are pivotable so as to clamp their lower-most ends together when their upper ends are moved apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hillmar Industries Limited
    Inventors: Ian W. Bourhill, Igor Berliant
  • Publication number: 20120241262
    Abstract: The rail clamp includes a carriage having an actuator frame mounted to its base so as to extend upwardly from the base. Springs are mounted in the actuator frame at the upper end of the carnage. An actuator is mounted between the base and the springs. A wheel is mounted on a wheel support. The wheel engages the rail. At least one suspension frame is pivotally mounted to the carriage and at an opposite end, to the wheel support. The actuator operates on the suspension frame so as to elevate the carriage. A pair of clamping levers is pivotally mounted to the base of the carriage. Brake shoes mount on the lower-most ends of the levers. The levers are pivotable so as to clamp their lower-most ends together when their upper ends are moved apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Ian W. Bourhill, Igor Berliant
  • Patent number: 7975811
    Abstract: A rail clamp comprises a frame and a pair of levers. Each of the levers has a brake pad at a first end thereof, a cam follower at second end thereof, and is mounted to the frame by a pivot disposed between said first and second ends. A cam is disposed between the levers and a spring biases the cam in a first direction. A clamp release actuator is operable to displace the cam in a second direction. The second direction is opposite to the first direction. A pair of variably sloped cam surfaces are disposed on opposite sides of the cam. Each of the variably sloped cam surfaces is in contact with the cam follower of a corresponding one of the levers, and each of the variably sloped cam surfaces has a slope which varies to counteract variations in a spring force of the spring as the cam is displaced, thereby maintaining a constant clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hillmar Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Igor Berliant
  • Publication number: 20090183956
    Abstract: A rail clamp comprises a frame and a pair of levers. Each of the levers has a brake pad at a first end thereof, a cam follower at second end thereof, and is mounted to the frame by a pivot disposed between said first and second ends. A cam is disposed between the levers and a spring biases the cam in a first direction. A clamp release actuator is operable to displace the cam in a second direction. The second direction is opposite to the first direction. A pair of variably sloped cam surfaces are disposed on opposite sides of the cam. Each of the variably sloped cam surfaces is in contact with the cam follower of a corresponding one of the levers, and each of the variably sloped cam surfaces has a slope which varies to counteract variations in a spring force of the spring as the cam is displaced, thereby maintaining a constant clamping force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventor: Igor Berliant